Felix Martel wrote:
>
> I have a strange problem:
>
> My '86 Syncro Westy tends to accumulate air in the cooling system. I
> regularly have to bleed air from the radiator and I have to bleed air from
> the primary coolant tank just about every time I take her out, even for a
> short drive.
>
> After about fifteen minutes of running time (either moving or idle), air
> accumulates in the primary reservoir and the idiot light comes on at the
> temperature gauge (which shows normal temp.). To remedy the situation, I
> have to open the engine cover and loosen the cap a little on the tank to let
> the air out and siphon coolant back in from the overflow. If I don't do
> this, the overflow eventually - you guessed it - overflows and the primary
> tank can become completely empty.
>

This is called the Vanagon Syndrome, the head gasket problem. I had the
problem
on my 83 westy starting at 30k miles. At 60k miles I finally got VWoA to
confess
that it was a factory problem and they agreed to pay 75% of the repair
cost
to fix it. They replaced both the cylinder heads for me and I paid about
$600.

Your symptom is exactly what I had before. Sorry, that's a bad news.
Talk to
your dealer and describe it to them and they will verify it for you.

David Kao
83 westy
84 Vanagon